First Drive

What is it?

Kia’s four-year-old Rio supermini, which has been given the lightest of mid-life nips and tucks.

Changes to the outside are only minor, and include new front and rear bumpers, a modified grille and a couple of blink-and-you’ll-miss-them detail changes to some of the exterior trim.

There are slightly more significant changes to the inside and on the spec list, where there are material and trim improvements aimed at improving perceived quality, while features on offer higher up the range now include a 7.0in touchscreen infotainment system which includes sat-nav.

There are no mechanical changes or tweaks to the engine range, meaning buyers still get to choose from 1.1 and 1.4-litre diesel engines, and 1.25 and 1.4-litre petrols. It’s the 1.4-litre petrol with 107bhp that we’re testing here.

What's it like?

The petrol engine is one of those that needs to be really revved to do its best work. You don’t get into a Kia Rio expecting your socks to be blown off by the performance, but downsized turbo engines with plenty of low-end torque are now commonplace in the segment and able to give even most the humdrum of models a degree of spirited performance.

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So the absence of one here is noticed. Kia is listening, though, and the firm’s recently revealed 1.0-litre three-cylinder petrol turbo engine should make its way into the Rio over time.

Back to 2015 though, and while the 1.4 petrol unit here may lack spirited performance, it does at least return some decent economy figures. Something approaching 50mpg can be achieved on an average run, which is unusually close to the official figure of 56.5mpg - and that's something that can’t usually be said of a modern downsized turbo engine.

Kia’s 1.4 is also a quiet and refined unit and one that’s hooked up to a sweet-shifting six-speed manual gearbox.

Equally sweet is the ride quality of this car. It lacks the suppleness and maturity of the class's best, such as the Ford Fiesta and Volkswagen Polo, but the Rio has a comfortable ride quality, and that’s going to be a big box ticked for potential Rio buyers.

The chassis tuning has been done with ride comfort in mind, then, but the Rio is still more than respectable when it comes to handling. Body control is particularly impressive, and the Rio turns in keenly enough. It’s never engaging – the overly light feel to the steering also helps see to that – but it's competent enough.

Other boxes the Rio ticks include a comfortable driving position, good visibility and well-matched control weights, again all things a good supermini should offer.

We knew a lot of that from the Rio before its facelift, though, so of more note are the interior improvements. It’s been a while since I sat in a Rio, but was impressed with the cabin’s general look, feel and overall perceived quality, particularly of the materials used in the key areas you’ll be interacting with.

However, the small, somewhat old-fashioned display screen in the centre console lets things down a bit, while the more tucked-away materials lack the classy finish of those you'll find in a Polo.

Should I buy one?

The Rio has plenty going for it. It looks okay, drives okay, is economical, comfortable and feels well put together. That will be enough for many buyers, particularly when you factor in that seven-year warranty and the good value the car represents.

To us, though, driving merely 'okay' means it remains well short of the accomplished dynamic performers at the top of this class.

Join the debate

Just out of curiosity does any other car maker offer 6-gear transmission at this level?
Reviewers often criticise this NA engine and it does need a little bit more work than say Ford's 1L Ecoboost but aligned with the six gears it makes a much better motorway cruiser and during a test drive that I did with/for my partner a year ago I also averaged very close to the claimed MPG during the test drive.
However Fiesta does have a better steering, better known brand, better finance package and heftier discounts while Volkswagen Group multiple offerings have better reviews if not much else going for them!

Just out of curiosity does any other car maker offer 6-gear transmission at this level?
Reviewers often criticise this NA engine and it does need a little bit more work than say Ford's 1L Ecoboost but aligned with the six gears it makes a much better motorway cruiser and during a test drive that I did with/for my partner a year ago I also averaged very close to the claimed MPG during the test drive.

This is a bit of a bugbear of mine. I know its in a completely different category, but MINI have for a long time fitted the same 6-speed manual transmission as standard, even if you were buying the bottom of the range First model, whereas rivals such as Citroen and Audi would only give you a 6-speed when you went further up the range. When its your only vehicle you want something thats good on the motorway too.

Just out of curiosity does any other car maker offer 6-gear transmission at this level?
Reviewers often criticise this NA engine and it does need a little bit more work than say Ford's 1L Ecoboost but aligned with the six gears it makes a much better motorway cruiser and during a test drive that I did with/for my partner a year ago I also averaged very close to the claimed MPG during the test drive.
However Fiesta does have a better steering, better known brand, better finance package and heftier discounts while Volkswagen Group multiple offerings have better reviews if not much else going for them!

Does your hate for VAG products lies with fact you can only afford a Kia? Perhaps they have better reviews because they make a better product - the amount of vehicles sold says it all. And your mentioned test drive sounds really exciting, nearly hitting Kia's MPG claims.

Does your hate for VAG products lies with fact you can only afford a Kia? Perhaps they have better reviews because they make a better product - the amount of vehicles sold says it all. And your mentioned test drive sounds really exciting, nearly hitting Kia's MPG claims.

I do not own a Kia but I did test drove the Rio with this 1.4L unit as a second car for my partner a year ago. I test drove a VW Group car as well but did not find it half as good as the raving reviews it gets. Hence my VW/review comment. Didn't mean to tick you off. Sorry.

I've always thought the Rio 'in its current incarnation' looked better than 'okay', one of the better looking cars in its class. Reminds me a little of the mk 1 Seat Leon.
Needs peppier engines and possibly a warm version or some sporty styling options a la Fabia Monte Carlo.

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